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Author
Topic: Acccelerated Aging (Read 6689 times)

It is about time that Amfar and other support groups quit repeating the BS that the pharmeceutical industry has foisted upon us. 60 years old and have gone through more crap than guys in their 80's. Reading what others on this forum have written tells me I'm not alone.

Aging with HIV: The Graying of AIDS in America

Published Wednesday, September 18, 2013

To mark National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day on September 18th and National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on September 27th, amfAR looks at the issues faced by long-term survivors of HIV, many of whom are members of the AIDS Generation—gay men who came of age in the 1980s and 1990s.

By 2015, nearly half of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV will be over the age of 50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and while a growing number of new infections are among people over 50, the majority of people aging with HIV are long-term survivors. Many are gay men, infected as they came of age in the 1980s and 1990s, who never expected to reach middle age, and who watched many of their friends die in the prime of their lives. They are known as the AIDS Generation. “Because of the high mortality linked to AIDS before we had potent treatments, many friends and spouses are not alive to help,” says Jeffrey Laurence, M.D., amfAR’s senior scientific consultant for programs. “And HIV itself, despite effective treatment, is linked to a heightened state of inflammation and accelerated aging.”

Due to that accelerated aging, people with HIV often develop conditions associated with aging at a higher rate and an earlier age than those who are HIV negative. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurocognitive problems, and chronic respiratory, liver, and kidney disease. They are also more vulnerable to osteoporosis caused by the long-term use of antiretroviral medication.

The medical community is only beginning to understand how best to treat these non-AIDS-related conditions in conjunction with HIV. “Robust support for a strong research agenda will be crucial to understanding and addressing these challenges,” said Rowena Johnston Ph.D., amfAR’s vice president and director of research, while testifying at a Senate Special Subcommittee on Aging hearing held on National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day titled Older Americans: The Changing Face of HIV/AIDS in America. “However, although the U.S. has long been recognized as the world leader in biomedical research, stagnant funding—which translates into actual funding reductions when adjusted for inflation—imperils U.S. leadership and jeopardizes future life-saving research advances.”

Additionally, mental health is a large concern among those aging with HIV. A 2006 survey of New Yorkers over 50 living with HIV, performed by the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, found that 70% lived alone, and that two-thirds suffered from depression. Many members of the AIDS Generation report symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder due to their experiences during the early years of the AIDS crisis, and many say that they feel abandoned by the gay community and the gay organizations they helped found at that time. All of this causes increased risk of substance abuse, suicide, and other health complications.

“Watching the gay rights movement turn its back on the issue that has defined our lives—HIV/AIDS—and almost act like it never happened, compounded the mental health issues for many people,” says Peter Staley, a member of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) in the 1980s, and a current member of the Medius Working Group, which was founded to address the issues of HIV and aging by another early ACT UP member, Spencer Cox, who died earlier this year.

It is about time that Amfar and other support groups quit repeating the BS that the pharmaceutical industry has foisted upon us.

exactly what "BS" are you talking about?

I'm pretty happy that the pharmaceutical industry created meds that kept me alive all these years. My first partner, probably infected a year before me, died from not having meds. What a difference a year can make. (sigh! and yea!)

While on one hand, I'm not exactly happy to read that people consider me someone who is part of the "AIDS generation" (I mean that's probably as good a definition as any. Those words just sound sorta creepy somehow); on the other hand, I know that I am dealing with accelerated aging.

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix

that IS the best thing about this forum - finding others from that early "AIDS generation"

Boy, amen to that. Realizing my...dare I say...privileged place in the universe as a LT survivor, AKA the AIDS generation had made a world of difference to me, and it's thank to my recently discovering the Forums.

But I am glad to see the issues of AIDS and aging getting attention, even if it is for those sound-bite moments. Thanks for alerting me to the article.

I'm pretty happy that the pharmaceutical industry created meds that kept me alive all these years. My first partner, probably infected a year before me, died from not having meds. What a difference a year can make. (sigh! and yea!)

While on one hand, I'm not exactly happy to read that people consider me someone who is part of the "AIDS generation" (I mean that's probably as good a definition as any. Those words just sound sorta creepy somehow); on the other hand, I know that I am dealing with accelerated aging.

I know, you know and others have known of their own accelerated aging but how do you reconcile that knowledge with the absurd claim that we, the infected, are going to live a normal lifespan. What part of day to day suffering is normal?

The BS is all the untoward effects of the drugs we are taking and their concealment/suppresion by the pharmaceutical companies. Know that I've been involved in drug studies, and have attempted in a few instances to replicate earlier work, to no avail.

Read please, in the Research Forums, an article I posted from Nature magazine detailing the incredible incompetence, malfeasance and outright deception by industry and researcher alike. Results and their conclusions are continuously tweaked in order to shine the best possible light on researcher's hypo thesises, the net result being NIH is looking into starting a whole separate division, "The institute of reproducibility," or some such name, because of the shoddy work and irreproducibility of so many papers/work.

Another prime example are the of statins, once thought so safe that it was seriously considered giving everyone a script. The emerging consensus, especially in the context of HIV is that they are not as safe as billed.

Due to that accelerated aging, people with HIV often develop conditions associated with aging at a higher rate and an earlier age than those who are HIV negative. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurocognitive problems, and chronic respiratory, liver, and kidney disease... osteoporosis caused by the long-term use of antiretroviral medication.

If we start to break down these higher risks we see that we can actively manage our chances of good health verses bad health.

A huge Danish cohort study showed that HIV caused an average 5.5 years decline in life expectancy. The same study showed that for the HIV+ population, smoking caused a 12 year decline in life expectancy.

So cardiovascular disease... I've stopped smoking, exercise and dietary changes have brought my cholesterol, lipids (and blood sugars) all to within the healthy range, these changes also improve my odds around neurocognitive problems, cancer, osteoporosis, depression and chronic respiratory disease.We can improve odds around liver disease by cutting booze and drugs and getting hepatitis vaccinations. there are numerous interventions that we can take around neurocognitve changes, medications can be changed to avoid kidney failure...

There are no guarantees but, on all these health issues we can improve our odds. We don't have to be passive about this, passivity is the big killer.

I think because many of us underwent huge lifestyle changes and cleaned up our acts the early research was skewed and missed the accelerated aging manifestations of our disease. Now they seemed to have caught on.

Good because for those of us who are LTS's bnABs (antibodies) won't necessarily do us any good because we have seeded so many tissues and organs for so long. For us it is an intracellular disease which will require other "purge" treatments in order to achieve a functional cure.

Harley you're spot on! Passivity for a variety of reasons is a killer, which includes sedentary lifestyles. "Ya got ta move," applies more than ever now.

Well, some of us cleaned up our acts. I only have, if I make it to Oct. 21, 8 years sober. I was sober for a few years after diagnosis, but then went back to addiction. So, I believe that adds to the aging process as well. All the abuse done to the body, plus I was in a coma and flatlined for a little over 5 minutes. My doctor believes that's the main reason for my poor memory. I guess I'm fortunate I can put any thought together.

This is interesting. I would certainly like to talk to my doctor about it, and will next time I see him.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

I have a friend who has lived more or less a completely drug free post-diagnosis life and yet he's traveling down to John Hopkins today to see a specialist about HIV-related memory life. I'm not sure anyone can accurately say what causes this and what doesn't and am surprised to see people here attempting to do so.

"Pro-inflammatory cytokines as predictors of antidepressant effects of exercise in major depressive disorder."

and from Medscape:http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/811411?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=177528CX

"Depression in HIV linked to Cerebrospinal Fluid Viral Escape"

Teasing out cause and effect will be difficult but given the role our immune system plays in normal housekeeping functions it should could come as no surprise that it is involved.

For me the significance of this and other recent reports is that there is an "organic" rational for our memory loss, depression, and other neurological issues. In other words, "It is not just in our heads," and therefore we shouldn't be denied SSI, insurance waivers and on and on. In the past it was so easy for clinicians to write us off as depressives with memory loss and if we just give you this antidepressent you'll be right as rain. BS.

I have a friend who has lived more or less a completely drug free post-diagnosis life and yet he's traveling down to John Hopkins today to see a specialist about HIV-related memory life. I'm not sure anyone can accurately say what causes this and what doesn't and am surprised to see people here attempting to do so.

I've lived a drug free both pre and post diagnosis and deal with extreme memory/cognitive issues. I think many are attempting to find a cause/affect aspect of this as we are dismissed when attempting to discuss this issue with health care professionals.

Definitely not empirical, but I have 3 siblings and we all pretty much lead the same lifestyles. I'm the only one dealing with early onset forgetfulness. I have a fear in the back of my mind because of working in an Alzheimers ward in my early nursing days. A common aspect of those patients was the ability to recall long term memories in vivid detail and not remember what they had for lunch that day.

My long term memory is constantly improving yet I can't tell you what golf course we played last week.

Meanwhile, while I haven't touched serious drugs in a decade there were sufficient periods post-infection where I used drugs during my previous first decade of diagnosis and yet I don't feel that I have any noticeable depreciation in cognitive function.

Meanwhile, while I haven't touched serious drugs in a decade there were sufficient periods post-infection where I used drugs during my previous first decade of diagnosis and yet I don't feel that I have any noticeable depreciation in cognitive function.

That's great, and you should be thankful. Meanwhile, many of us ARE dealing with this issue.

"I'm only pointing out that drawing conclusions from past drug (and alcohol) use may not be the best way to go," is a good point, however (at least for me) I'm more concerned with current and future consumption.

What's done is done sort of thing. Moderation is my motto.

And I am truly grateful that you're not going through the neurocognitive crap a lot of us are (although I'd be surprised that you didn't have other, just as serious, medical issues).

I'm not debating that. I'm only pointing out that drawing conclusions from past drug (and alcohol) use may not be the best way to go.

I wasn't blaming my memory issues on the addiction. My doctor just told me he believes a lot of my issues with memory etc. are from flat lining while being in a coma, and the coma itself. And maybe that's not the main cause. But, I wouldn't be surprised if that had a great effect on memory. And other things. When the brain goes without oxygen for a period, things can happen.

But I never said the addiction was the issue. Though, during the last addiction I have huge chunks of time I cannot remember. I'm talking months, not a few days. And that is directly related to the addiction.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

I also wonder what, if any role long-term hiv infection has if one has a history of Alzheimer's in the family. Many of you who know me have witnessed my going off the track at times. Not sure if any studies have been done because our generation of LTS is just coming of age.

I do believe there is sufficient evidence that we LTS often age prematurely due to the virus. Causes? Many.

Guess the doctors will continue to rely on us dinosaurs to be the guinea pigs... til death do us part.

I also wonder what, if any role long-term hiv infection has if one has a history of Alzheimer's in the family. Many of you who know me have witnessed my going off the track at times. Not sure if any studies have been done because our generation of LTS is just coming of age.

I do believe there is sufficient evidence that we LTS often age prematurely due to the virus. Causes? Many.

Guess the doctors will continue to rely on us dinosaurs to be the guinea pigs... til death do us part.

I do wonder about this myself. Now that I've wound up being a LTS -- hooray! -- one of life's curve balls was my having to be responsible for my aging mother as she slipped into advanced dementia. I have already experienced my own (mostly subtle) neuro-cognitive effects (HAND) and it leads me to ponder the increased odds of dementia for me.

Love the witticisms and poetry you folks have used in your avatars so I thought I return the favor. From John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester. They say laughter is one of the best medicines. Enjoy.

Imperfect Enjoyment

The Imperfect EnjoymentNaked she lay, clasped in my longing arms, I filled with love, and she all over charms; Both equally inspired with eager fire, Melting through kindness, flaming in desire. With arms,legs,lips close clinging to embrace, She clips me to her breast, and sucks me to her face. Her nimble tongue, Love's lesser lightening, played Within my mouth, and to my thoughts conveyed Swift orders that I should prepare to throw The all-dissolving thunderbolt below. My fluttering soul, sprung with the painted kiss, Hangs hovering o'er her balmy brinks of bliss. But whilst her busy hand would guide that part Which should convey my soul up to her heart, In liquid raptures I dissolve all o'er, Melt into sperm and, and spend at every pore.

A touch from any part of her had done't: Her hand, her foot, her very look's a cunt.Smiling, she chides in a kind murmuring noise, And from her body wipes the clammy joys, When, with a thousand kisses wandering o'er My panting bosom, "Is there then no more?" She cries. "All this to love and rapture's due; Must we not pay a debt to pleasure too?"But I, the most forlorn, lost man alive,To show my wished obedience vainly strive: I sigh, alas! and kiss, but cannot swive. Eager desires confound my first intent, Succeeding shame does more success prevent, And rage at last confirms me impotent. Ev'n her fair hand, which might bid heat return To frozen age, and make cold hermits burn, Applied to my dead cinder, warms no more Than fire to ashes could past flames restore. Trembling, confused, despairing, limber, dry, A wishing, weak, unmoving lump I lie. This dart of love, whose piercing point, oft tried, With virgin blood ten thousand maids have dyed; Which nature still directed with such art That it through every cunt reached every heart - Stiffly resolved, 'twould carelessly invade Woman or man, nor aught its fury stayed: Where'er it pierced, a cunt it found or made - Now languid lies in this unhappy hour, Shrunk up and sapless like a withered flower.Thou treacherous, base deserter of my flame, False to my passion, fatal to my fame, Through what mistaken magic dost thou prove So true to lewdness, so untrue to love? What oyster-cinder-beggar-common whore Didst thou e'er fail in all thy life before? When vice, disease, and scandal lead the way, With what officious haste dost thou obey! Like a rude, roaring hector in the streets Who scuffles, cuffs, and justles all he meets, But if his king or country claim his aid, The rakehell villain shrinks and hides his head; Ev'n so thy brutal valour is displayed, Breaks every stew, does each small whore invade, But when great Love the onset does command, Base recreant to thy prince, thou dar'st not stand. Worst part of me, and henceforth hated most, Through all the town a common fucking-post, On whom each whore relieves her tingling cunt As hogs do rub themselves on gates and grunt, May'st thou to ravenous chancres be a prey, Or in consuming weepings waste away; May strangury and stone thy days attend; May'st thou ne'er piss, who did refuse to spend When all my joys did on false thee depend. And may ten thousand abler pricks agree To do the wronged Corinna right for thee.

I do wonder about this myself. Now that I've wound up being a LTS -- hooray! -- one of life's curve balls was my having to be responsible for my aging mother as she slipped into advanced dementia. I have already experienced my own (mostly subtle) neuro-cognitive effects (HAND) and it leads me to ponder the increased odds of dementia for me.

Yes, studies on this would be very interesting. Sign me up!

Moxie, I don't know about your increased odds for dementia, but I do question your taste in men. Think you might be slipping a little bit. . .